104 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 
Great Extinct Wild Ox, Bos primigenius, in Peebles- 
shire.—In the early summer of 1918, while casting their peats, 
the shepherds of Huthope and Craighope, in the headwaters of 
the Leithen, turned up a horn which, shown to Mr Fox of 
Innerleithen, was recognised as that of some ancient ox. In 
September of the same year, the peat section was visited by the 
writer accompanied by Mr Fox and the shepherds. After some 
digging another horn, somewhat smaller than the first one, was 
found. A careful lookout was kept for additional bones, but 
without success. The peat at this part, one mile east of Craighope 
and near a small knoll called the Porridge Knowe, on the southern 
declivity of the Moorfoots, is at a height of 1620 feet. The face 
of peat in the cut section stands 54 feet high, and the horns were 
found near the base of the section in the horizon of birch remains, 
which here represent the Lower Forestian period. The horns 
measure 9} and 8} inches long, the smaller one being more 
decayed and curiously pitted. They were submitted to Dr 
Ritchie of the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, who identified 
them as cores of horns of the ancient wild ox of Britain, Bos 
primigenius. There are several records of such finds from the 
neighbouring Border counties, but this seems to be the first 
record from Peeblesshire. Through the generosity of Captain 
Cunningham of Leithen Water Estate, the horns now belong to the 
Carnegie Public Library, Innerleithen.—R. Eckrorp, Edinburgh. 
Common Scoter in Perthshire.—On the 2nd June last, 
while I was examining the area about Loch Tummel for its birds, 
Scoters were met with on a loch in the neighbourhood, the exact 
locality of which I refrain from specifying. At that date two males 
and one female were seen. The high wind and strong “quiver” 
made it impossible to work the more westerly portion of the loch, 
and time did not then permit of a search being made around the 
deeply bayed shores for nests. The patch of colour on the bill of 
the male appeared to be of an orange-pink tint. 
On returning home I made inquiry as to the status of the Scoter 
in Perthshire, and in view of the fact that there was no record of 
breeding within the Tay area, it was deemed worth while to return. 
Accordingly on znd July the loch was again visited, and one 
male and at least three females, one of which was tending one 
downy duckling, and another eight young were seen. The 
ducklings seemed but recently hatched, dived with ease, and 
appeared to secure all their food under water. The female and 
young dived and returned to the surface together.— HENRY BOASE. 
